A GRANDMOTHER who had to undergo surgery after being seriously injured on the first day of a holiday in Spain has won a five-year legal battle against the tour operator involved.

Susan Stokes, from Camberley, was at the Hotel Port Aventura theme park in May 2007 when the devastating incident took place.

She had travelled abroad with her husband Chris to take their two grandsons, Thomas, then 11, and William, then nine, away for the first time.

But the holiday was brought to an abrupt end when Mrs Stokes slipped on an unmarked wet floor in the hotel and landed with a crash on her right side, fracturing her leg and wrist.

The incident was so serious that Mrs Stokes, who was treated in a Spanish hospital for a week, had to undergo surgery to try to repair the damage before she was flown by air ambulance back to the United Kingdom.

The 63-year-old also had to have metalwork put into her leg to repair the fracture. It took more than a year, with regular physiotherapy, for her to recover.

Mrs Stokes said: “We had all been so excited about our holiday abroad and had booked it a year in advance so we had something to look forward to, but it was disastrous from the start.

“I was walking to our hotel room when I stepped onto some tiles to let a woman past with a buggy, but didn’t realise the floor had been mopped and left soaking wet, so I skidded and landed heavily.

“Pain shot through my right side and I was rushed to the nearest hospital.

“We were all absolutely devastated that it happened, particularly with it being at the start of the holiday, as we never got a chance to enjoy ourselves.

“My husband Chris tried to remain cheery and make the best of the bad situation for the sake of our grandsons, but the holiday was ruined for us all.”

Mrs Stokes contacted law firm Irwin Mitchell in a battle for justice and won her case, after Panorama Holiday Group LTD, which is part of Thomas Cook, agreed to an undisclosed settlement just days before the case was due to go to trial.

She said: “I just hope that they learn from their mistakes so no-one else has to go through what I have. The safety of guests should be every hotel’s top priority and I hope improvements are made to reflect that.”

Specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are now echoing Mrs Stokes’ calls and asking tour operators to show more health and safety awareness within communal areas at hotels.

Demetrius Danas, a partner and specialist travel lawyer at the firm’s London office, said: “The accident ruined what should have been a relaxing and enjoyable family holiday and I hope steps are taken to prevent similar accidents happening again in the future.

“Thankfully, we have now been able to settle the case which will enable Mrs Stokes to finally put this ordeal behind her.”